Discover the best of Tanzania, a country of outstanding natural beauty, wonderful wildlife and rich culture, from its world-class national parks to its coastal cities and dizzying mountains.Plan your tailor-made holiday

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Wildlife Express - 22 days

Take a walk on the wild side. Track the African elephant, lion, giraffe and zebra, chill out on Zanzibar, cool off at Lake Malawi, enjoy the pleasures of Victoria Falls - adrenaline capital of Africa and have the time of your life!

Not Included

Itinerary

Saturday. Welcome to Nairobi! We’ll be there to collect you at Nairobi Airport and transfer you to the Kenya Comfort Hotel. Tonight you will stay in shared dorms. There will be a pre departure meeting at 17.00.Overnight: Nairobi

Days 2-5

Serengeti & Ngorongoro

Nairobi - Arusha (Tanzania). Leaving Nairobi, we cross the border into Tanzania. Arusha is the starting point for the 3 day excursion to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti.

The Ngorongoro/Serengeti excursion takes us via the Masai town of Mtu Wa Mbu (Mosquito River) that lies adjacent to the Lake Manyara National Park and up the Rift Valley Escarpment to the higher lying village of Karatu. Karatu offers magnificent views over the surrounding hills and has many well established wheat farms that add to the picturesque panoramas. We spend the evening at a pleasant campsite in Karatu. The following morning we depart early for the Ngorongoro Conservation area and head into the wildlife rich Ngorongoro Crater. This World Heritage Site boasts some of the best game viewing in Africa – including the elusive Black Rhino.
After our game drive in the Crater, we continue down the Crater rim and past the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ on our way to the Serengeti National Park. We cross the vast plains as we game drive through the southern and central areas in the park. Tonight we bush camp (no ablutions) in the wild surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness. In the morning, we head off for another game drive and explore the landscape in search of the resident wildlife. With some luck, we may see some of Africa’s ‘Big 5’!Overnight: Karatu (1) Serengeti (1) Arusha (1) | Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 4, Dinner x 4

Arusha - Pangani. Today we head south towards Dar es Salaam. On the way weather permitting; we may catch a glimpse of this Mt Kilimanjaro’s snowy summit - a photo opportunity not to be missed! We pass through vast sisal plantations surrounded by The Usambara and Pare Mountain ranges, before reaching our lovely campsite nestled between these mountains, midway between Arusha and Dar es Salaam. Overnight: Pangani | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Dar es Salaam - Zanzibar. A ferry from Dar Es Salaam takes us to ‘Spice Island’, where we to spend the next three nights. Zanzibar is steeped in history and offers a wealth of experiences. Wander the streets of Stone Town, take an excursion around a spice plantation or simply laze on one of the pristine white sandy beaches, the choice is yours!
Overnight: Zanzibar | Breakfast x 1

Iringa

Dar es Salaam - Iringa. Departing early this morning at 4am, we head south and pass through the Mikumi National Park where it is possible to view a range of wildlife from the roadside, totally impervious to the passing traffic. We travel towards Iringa and arrive at approx. 7pm, where we spend the night in a beautiful rustic campsite famous for its Amarula Hot Chocolates and its steamy showers! Be sure to keep a good book, music and a pack of cards handy as we are covering around 600 km’s today.Overnight: Iringa | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 13-15

Lake Malawi

Iringa - Lake Malawi (Malawi). We leave Tanzania and head into Malawi on day 13. Dominated by its huge lake occupying nearly 20% of it’s landmass, Malawi offers us pleasant respite from the heat. We cross the border post at Songwe and travel the length of the western side of the lake, stopping off at various bays and inlets over the next 4 days. We can enjoy lake side pleasures such as swimming, relaxing and optional aquatic activities such as snorkelling, canoeing and SCUBA diving. The local fishermen can be observed tending their daily catch and there are local schools and villages where you can visit the friendly Malawians.Overnight: Lake Malawi | Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 3, Dinner x 3

Days 16-18

South Luangwa National Park

Lake Malawi - South Luangwa - Lusaka Area. Today we head towards South Luangwa National Park. This breath taking park is situated on the Luangwa River in the Eastern part of Zambia, and it is the southernmost of three national parks in this region. South Luangwa was founded in 1938 as a game reserve, 1972 was the year it was declared as a national park, and today it covers over 9000 kilometres squared. Animals such as Giraffe, buffalo and Elephants can be found in abundance. The Luangwa river is home to many a hippo and croc.

Leaving the park on day 18 we make our way down south. As we drive, we pass through a few of the villages and towns of Zambia along the way. Prosperous during the copper boom in the 60’s, Zambia was able to build infrastructure at the main mining and farming communities. After the fall of the copper industry, the country was left virtually bankrupt and existing infrastructure was left to fall to ruin. Due to foreign investment and a rise in the mining industry, Zambia is today once again starting to prosper. Overnight: South Luangwa (2) Lusaka Area (1) | Breakfast x 3, Lunch x 3, Dinner x 3

Lusaka Area - Livingstone. Heading further south, we journey through the southern Zambian towns mostly supporting local agriculture and farming on our way to Livingstone. The Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya (the Smoke that Thunders) is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and it’s not difficult to see why. At 1700 m wide and around 100 m high, this is the world's largest sheet of falling water and a memorable sight on any African Safari! The Falls can be viewed from the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, Zambia - a fantastic photo opportunity. Tonight we have the option of enjoying a sunset dinner cruise on the mighty Zambezi.Overnight: Livingstone | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Livingstone - Chobe (Botswana). We leave Zambia, cross the border into Botswana and continue to the town of Kasane, situated on the banks of the Chobe River. After lunch, we leave for our Chobe National Park overnight mobile excursion – an overnight experience in the wilds of the Chobe National park. Chobe is one of Botswana’s premier game parks, renowned for its large elephant herds. We spend the afternoon in search of wildlife while we game drive to our camp within the park where we spend the evening surrounded by the night-time noises of the local wildlife.
Overnight: Chobe National Park | Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Chobe - Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). After our night in the bush, we head out early to continue our search for wildlife, before packing up the camp and heading back to Kasane. Crossing the border into Zimbabwe, a short drive takes us to the nearby Victoria Falls. Named after the famous World Heritage site and Water Falls, the town of Victoria Falls is situated on the Zambezi River and surrounded by the Victoria Falls National Park. We enjoy our last day in the adrenaline playground of Africa, where there are optional activities aplenty here including Zambezi white water rafting, bungy jumping from 111m and flights over the Falls in a variety of airborne machines! Overnight: Victoria Falls | Lunch

Saturday. After breakfast, we exchange addresses and part ways, having just experienced a trip of a lifetime! We suggest booking additional days after your trip to take advantage of the optional excursions available at Victoria Falls.

Optional excursions include horseback safaris, a visit to the crocodile ranch, boat cruises and golf at The Elephant Hills Resort. Adrenalin junkies can bungee from the Victoria Falls Bridge connecting Zimbabwe and Zambia or abseil down the Batoka Gorge - neither activity is for the faint hearted! All year round, flights in fixed wing, micro light and ultra light aircraft or helicopters provide an aerial perspective over this magnificent World Heritage Site. White water rafting on the Zambezi is world class. Beside the excitement of the Grade 5 rapids, there are the "floats," where there is time to admire the scenic cliffs and the occasional wildlife on the riverbanks. Breakfast

FAMILY DEPARTURES

Parents with children and teens aged 6 to 17 are welcome on selected departure dates of our northbound Wildlife Express tour, travelling from Victoria Falls to Nairobi. Children under 12 get 5% off the trip price. See the Northbound tab above for details.

Prices & Dates

Departure dates noted with a 'G' are guaranteed to operate. All other departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. Prices shown are per person travelling. Single travellers will be paired up in tents with another person of the same sex.

Kenya Comfort Hotel, Nairobi

Comfortable dormitory accommodation in central Nairobi (upgrades available on request). The Kenya Comfort Hotel also features an outdoor pool, restaurant serving a good array of local and international dishes as well as a fully stocked bar - perfect for relaxing before or after your epic overland adventure.

Kipepeo Village , Dar es Salaam

The Tanzanian bush meets the blue waters of the Indian Ocean at Kipepeo Beach & Village, situated on the south coast of Dar Es Salaam. The campsite is right on the beach itself and is a popular destination for watersports adventures or simple relaxation. Facilities include a beach bar and restaurant.Upgrades are available to the twenty elevated ensuite chalets, built in the bush and decorated in traditional Swahili style, provide a stunning ocean views.

Croc Valley Camp, South Luangwa National Park

Croc Valley Camp is located on the banks of the Luangwa River, and provides accommodation ranging from riverfront tents to ensuite chalets, built on stilts to avoid the off-season floods. Watch elephants roam across the campsite, experience a game drive through South Luangwa National Park, or relax with a gin & tonic at the bar. The camp also features a large outdoor pool, kitchen facilities, and daily laundry service.

Shearwater Explorers Village, Victoria Falls

Situated in the bohemian town of Victoria Falls, and 400m from the Falls themselves, the affordable accommodation at the Shearwater Explorers Village consists of 5 campsites with modern bathroom facilities, and 16 private chalets with en-suite showers and A/C. Shearwater operates a range of activities at the Falls, from bungee jumping to river rafting - and when the day is over, guests can wind down with Wi-Fi in the lounge areas, a drink by the pool, or even a back rub in the massage tent.

Victoria Falls Rest Camp, Victoria Falls

Located a stone’s throw away from the Artist village & Elephant Walk Shopping is the Victoria Falls Rest Camp. Offering camping and dorm room accommodation, this camp features a year-round outdoor pool and barbecue facilities. Daily continental or cooked breakfast is served at the in-house restaurant, which also offers a variety of local African dishes. Wi-fi is available and some units feature equipped kitchens.

Reviews

Travellers have rated this tour as 4.67
out of 5
based on 9 recent reviews

We had such an amazing time on our 22 Day Overland Safari. It was the perfect way to get a taste of Eastern and Southern Africa in such a short space of time! If camping doesn't phase you then we'd highly recommend it! It's an adventure from start to finish and a great way to meet new people. We can't thank our guide, Hes, our driver, Steve and chef, Malinga for taking such great care of our group! A huge thanks to all at On The Go for everything too! Hazel and Andy”

Hazel Byrne &bullet; Submitted 18 Jan 2019

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Our tour guide, Makenzy, was really amazing.

Our cook, John, surprised us with a very good food every single day.

Our driver, Tom, was also amazing.

These three people really made our trip.”

Pui Mei Hung &bullet; Submitted 29 Mar 2017

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“

Hess was amazing. He was very organized and efficient. Very impressed by his people skills and his ability resolve issues and avoid any conflicts. I know that some of our group thought that he was not well organized or interactive enough. I learned that they were young and this was their first time traveling with a tour. We have traveled several times with Gate One, Roads Scholars, and Affordable Asia, so we have extensive experiences in which to make a comparison. Hess was highly organized, what they took as complacent, was his astute awareness as to when to back off and let us have alone time or chances to interact with each other. Everything we requested was accomplished. How he kept it all straight is beyond most people's abilities. One of the best guides we have ever had. ”

Kathryn Owen &bullet; Submitted 16 Mar 2017

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Kapillar, Joseph and Steven did an amazing job.

The meals were delicious, there was lots of food and a great variety, Joseph and Kapillar worked hard to accommodate all the different diets.

The group brought a variety of personalities, with many different travel styles and expectations. Kapillar did an amazing job of balancing the needs of everyone. He was very patient when some guests were challenging, and he always had a smile on his face.

Our tour was enhanced 100% because of the guides we had. They were approachable and smart, and brought a great dynamic to the group. If we come to Africa again, we will be asking for this team! ”

Brianne Niles &bullet; Submitted 04 Aug 2016

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Nothing but good experiences with this tour. Huge thanks to the guide Chris, the cook Malinga and the driver Steve for making it an amazing experience for our first time in Africa.”

Jeff &bullet; Submitted 03 Nov 2015

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Our guide, chef and driver were fantastic on all accounts, very organised an knew exactly how to make our experience fun, and making sure we all had the best time. Had some amazing memories made on this trip and would 100% book again with on the go. ”

Brian Massey &bullet; Submitted 08 Feb 2015

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We had a fantastic time. Mwangi did a wonderful job, particularly as we had some fellow travellers with inflated senses of entitlement.

It would be good ift he trip was another two or three days longer so we have an opportunity to see the cities ( lilongwe, lusaka and dar), as were traveling through countries without really seeing them on some occasions.

Overall, had a wonderful time. Isa was an incredible driver (weve since hired a car and driven through tunisia, new found respect for Isa!) and we enjoyed Wycliffs cooking very much. As a vegetarian, food convenience was one of my reasons for booking thr tour and i certainly wasnt disappointed. My partner and i are keen to see the gorillas in Rwanda and Uganda, and wed definitely book if we could have Mwangi and the other boys again!”

Ashleigh Streeter-Jones &bullet; Submitted 30 Jan 2015

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Mwangi was absolutely flawless for the 22 days we spent together. Some members of the group thought they were staying at a hotel and expected the crew to do everything for them. Mwangi deslt with this in a highly professional manner, and did not allow their negativity to impact the group. He was knowledgeable about all the countries we visited, above and beyond what I expected. I cannot speak highly enough of him. ”

Kane Treloar &bullet; Submitted 29 Jan 2015

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The tour was excellent and I would recommend it highly to anyone keen to get a real feel for Africa! I liked our tour guide, Caroline, a lot, but I did find her to be a little inconsistent, moody and vague at times. However, in general, I think she did a good job.”

Susan Barrett &bullet; Submitted 28 Jan 2015

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Hi Ryan. Thanks for all your help with booking the Wildlife Express tour, just wanted to let you know it was fantastic mate! Gorillas next time ... Nick”

We had such an amazing time on our 22 Day Overland Safari. It was the perfect way to get a taste of Eastern and Southern Africa in such a short space of time! If camping doesn't phase you then we'd highly recommend it! It's an adventure from start to finish and a great way to meet new people. We can't thank our guide, Hes, our driver, Steve and chef, Malinga for taking such great care of our group! A huge thanks to all at On The Go for everything too! Hazel and Andy”

Life can be unpredictable and we understand that sometimes it’s necessary to change or delay your travel plans. With our LIFETIME DEPOSIT guarantee, you can book our Signature tours safe in the knowledge that if you’re unable to travel, your deposit is fully transferable and will be held for an unlimited time.

Tanzania Overland Camping Safaris

Our overland camping safaris in Tanzania range from 11 to 57 days, taking in not just the main highlights of Tanzania, but several of Africa’s finest national parks on our multi-country safaris.

Travelling by specially equipped expedition truck and camping in tents is the most cost-effective way of visiting Tanzania and it gets you off the beaten track too with plenty of opportunity for adventure.

This trip has a local payment. It is this payment which covers entrance fees, camping fees and meals as detailed for this itinerary. The local payment is in addition to the prices specified and is to be paid directly to the tour leader on Day 1 of the trip. The payment should be made in cash, in the currency specified.

Please note that due to exchange rate fluctuations, as well as potential changes to park entrance fees, the local payment amount may be subject to change. We will however inform you of any such changes as soon as we are aware of them.

Budget

Value and Freedom

Our Budget range is the perfect choice for independent spirits travelling on a shoestring. As well as guided sightseeing of the key highlights, there’s also ample free time to explore independently or partake in optional excursions that maximise your time in each destination. Few meals are included, allowing you the freedom to choose exactly where you eat and spend your evenings out, with the added bonus of enabling you to stay in control of your spending.

Many tours in this range include a local payment and this pricing system helps keep costs down so you can be sure we’re delivering the best possible value. You’ll be travelling by both private and public transport – think buses, trains and feluccas. Accommodation ranges from dome tents to a surprise 4-star hotel at a 3-star price. And with a maximum group size of 32, these tours are designed to create a social and fun travel experience.

Guaranteed Departures

This tour is 100% guaranteed to depart with travellers.

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For all our tours and tailor-made holidays we provide you with a clear categorisation of all hotels we use. The REGIONAL CATEGORY indicates the local rating of each hotel in each respective country. We have also rated each hotel using OUR CATEGORY, which will be in line with generally accepted western hotel grading standards.

SimpleBasic hotels and simple accommodation is a no frills option with an adventurous authentic feel.

StandardStandard accommodation equates to a Western 3-star standard, always featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant.

SuperiorSuperior accommodation equates to a Western 4-star standard, featuring en-suite rooms and usually a restaurant and often a swimming pool and/or a fitness centre.

DeluxeDeluxe accommodation equates to a Western 5-star standard, usually featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, excellent service and customer care.

LavishLavish accommodation equates to a Western 5-star plus standard - the creme de la creme. Featuring spacious, en-suite rooms, a restaurant, swimming pool and fitness centre and an array of amenities, this accommodation is a cut above the rest. Sheer opulence!